Liquid ejection inspecting method, liquid ejection inspector, and image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

A printhead of an ink jet printer includes plural ejection nozzles for ejecting ink. In an ink ejection inspecting method for the printhead, the ejection nozzles are photographed in the printhead, to output image data. The image data is analyzed by the pattern recognition, to output analysis result information. According to this, it is judged whether an ejecting state of the ejection nozzles is acceptable or unacceptable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid ejection inspecting method,liquid ejection inspector and image forming apparatus. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a liquid ejectioninspecting method and liquid ejection inspector in which inspection ofliquid ejection to check failure can be effected efficiently withoutwaste of consumables, and an image forming apparatus for use with theliquid.

2. Description Related to the Prior Art

An ink jet printer is known as an image forming apparatus. A printheadincludes an ink reservoir for storing ink. Ejection nozzles areconnected with the ink reservoir, and caused by an ink supply unit toeject the ink to print an image on a recording medium. The ink jetprinter of the type known so far has problems in that ink is dried anddeposited on the inside of the ejection nozzles, or that the surplus inkmay be scattered by the recording medium, and come back to and depositon a surface of the printhead, to cause jamming of ink.

When jamming of ink occurs, there is ejection failure in which an amountof ejected ink decreases, or comes down to zero. Unevenness in thedensity or colors occurs in a streak shape in a recorded image, to lowerthe image quality remarkably. Therefore, it is necessary in an ink jetprinter to detect the ejection failure at the ejection nozzles, and toeliminate the ejection failure in the case of occurrence.

To check the ejection failure, various methods are known. JP-A 8-332736and 11-078051 disclose test printing to eject test ink to the recordingmedium and inspection of the shape and arrangement of droplets of theink. JP-A 11-192726, EP-A 1059172 (corresponding to JP-A 2001-054954),and JP-A 2001-063083 disclose methods in which droplets of test ink areejected, a beam of laser or other electromagnetic rays is applied to thedroplets, to detect a shielded state of the beam at the droplets.

However, those known techniques have problems. In the first of thosemethods, a test pattern must be recorded together with a target imagewithout any relation. Also, ink for test printing is required in awasteful manner. A space in the recording medium for receiving dropletsof the ink is required for the test printing. In the second of thosemethods, the same problem occurs in ink for test printing is required ina wasteful manner. Specifically, density in image recording has beenhigher in recent techniques for printing. The number of the ejectionnozzles as arranged in the printhead has been high. This causes ashortcoming in requirement of much time for the detecting the ejectionfailure. If the ejection failure is checked in the course of theprinting, productivity or efficiency in the printing becomes lower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing problems, an object of the present invention isto provide a liquid ejection inspecting method and liquid ejectioninspector in which inspection of liquid ejection to check failure can beeffected rapidly and efficiently without waste of consumables, and animage forming apparatus for use with the liquid.

In order to achieve the above and other objects and advantages of thisinvention, a liquid ejection inspecting method is provided for anejection nozzle array including plural ejection nozzles for ejectingliquid. In the liquid ejection inspecting method, the ejection nozzlesare photographed in the ejection nozzle array, to output image data. Theimage data is analyzed to output analysis result information. It isjudged whether an ejecting state of the ejection nozzles is acceptableor unacceptable according to the analysis result information.

In the analyzing step, predetermined reference image data is used, tocheck the image data by comparison.

Furthermore, if the ejection nozzles are in the unacceptable state, theejection nozzles are wiped to eliminate foreign material.

The photographing, analyzing, and judging steps are effected again afterthe eliminating step. Furthermore, if the unacceptable state is judgedagain in the judging step, an alarm signal is generated.

According to another aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatuscomprises at least one ejection nozzle array including plural ejectionnozzles for ejecting liquid. A pickup device photographs the ejectionnozzles in the ejection nozzle array, to output image data. An analyzerstores reference image data, and outputs analysis result informationaccording to the image data and the reference image data. A determiningunit judges whether an ejecting state of the ejection nozzles isacceptable or unacceptable according to the analysis result information.

Furthermore, a foreign material elimination unit eliminates foreignmaterial from the ejection nozzles.

The reference image data is used in a pattern recognition process, andthe analyzer and the determining unit cooperate to judge one ofacceptable and unacceptable states of the ejection nozzles by evaluatingthe image data in the pattern recognition process.

The elimination unit is operated at least when the unacceptable state isjudged according to the analysis result information.

According to the analysis result information, the elimination unit isselectively operated for unacceptable ejection nozzles included in theejection nozzles and of which the unacceptable state is judged.

The analyzer further calculates a blocked area where the foreignmaterial blocks the ejection nozzles according to the image data.Furthermore, a control unit changes a driving parameter of theelimination unit according to the blocked area.

The elimination unit is a suction unit for sucking the liquid out of theejection nozzles, and the driving parameter is at least one of apressure of suction of the suction unit, a length of time of thesuction, and a number of times of the suction.

The liquid is ink, and the ejection nozzle array constitutes a printheadof an ink jet type, is adapted to image recording to recording material,and extends in a first scan direction. Furthermore, a control unit movesone of the printhead and the recording material relative to a remainingone thereof at a small adjusting shifted amount in the first scandirection, the adjusting shifted amount being equal to a pitch betweenan unacceptable nozzle of which the unacceptable state is judged and anacceptable nozzle close thereto and of which the acceptable state isjudged among the ejection nozzles, the control unit causing theacceptable nozzle to eject the ink instead of the unacceptable nozzle,so as to compensate for lowering of image quality due to theunacceptable state.

Furthermore, a mode selector sets a selected one of an elimination modeand a nozzle substitution mode, and when the elimination mode is set,operates the elimination unit, and when the nozzle substitution mode isset, causes the control unit to operate the acceptable nozzle includedin the ejection nozzles for substitution.

Furthermore, a carriage moves the printhead relative to the recordingmaterial in a second scan direction. The pickup device is arrangedbeside a printing surface of the recording material in the second scandirection, and is opposed to the printhead moved by the carriage.

Furthermore, an image history memory stores image history dataconstituted by plural sets of image data obtained previously. Theanalyzer judges whether the image data is within a range of the imagehistory data, and if the image data is within the range of the imagehistory data, determines the acceptable state of an ejection nozzlecorresponding to the image data, and if the image data is outside therange of the image history data, determines an ejection nozzlecorresponding to the image data as a failure-expected nozzle, andprocesses the image data for the failure-expected nozzle, to output theanalysis result information.

The pickup device photographs the failure-expected nozzle when operatedagain.

The analyzer determines a difference between the image data and thereference image data, the difference constituting the analysis resultinformation. The determining unit stores information of a predeterminedthreshold value adapted to the pattern recognition process, compares thedifference with the threshold value, judges the acceptable state if thedifference is equal to or less than the threshold value, and judges theunacceptable state if the difference is more than the threshold value.

The pickup device comprises a CCD or CMOS.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view illustrating important portions in an inkjet printer at a printhead;

FIG. 2 is a plan illustrating arrangement of ejection nozzles;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an ink ejectioninspector;

FIG. 4A is an explanatory view in plan, illustrating an ejection nozzlein a clean state;

FIG. 4B is an explanatory view in plan, illustrating an ejection nozzlewith foreign material thereabout;

FIG. 4C is an explanatory view in plan, illustrating an ejection nozzlewith foreign material on its edge;

FIG. 4D is an explanatory view in plan, illustrating an ejection nozzlewith foreign material having a small width;

FIG. 4E is an explanatory view in plan, illustrating an ejection nozzlewith foreign material at the nozzle center;

FIG. 4F is an explanatory view in plan, illustrating an ejection nozzlewith foreign material covering the whole of the nozzle;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically illustrating another preferredembodiment including a selector;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating one preferredembodiment including a memory;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view illustrating a line printer for ink jetprinting according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE PRESENTINVENTION

In FIG. 1, an ink jet type of printhead 2 as ejection nozzle array isillustrated as an element for an ink jet printer or image formingapparatus. A carriage 4 supports the printhead 2. There is a guide rod 3which extends in a main scan direction M and is inserted through a holeof the carriage 4. The carriage 4 slides the printhead 2 back and forthin the main scan direction M of the arrows. A feed roller (not shown)intermittently feeds the recording material 5 of paper in a sub scandirection S, for image recording of the printhead 2 to the recordingmaterial 5 according to the ink jet printing. For the sub scan directionS, see FIG. 2.

The printhead 2 has a nozzle arrangement surface 2a opposed to therecording material 5. A plurality of ejection nozzles 7 are arranged inthe printhead 2. An ink chamber 6 is connected to each of the ejectionnozzles 7. An ink reservoir 8 stores ink. A passageway is connected withthe ink reservoir 8, and passes the ink to the ink chamber 6. An inksupply unit 9 is used to supply the ejection nozzles 7 with the ink fromthe ink reservoir 8, and fires the ejection nozzles 7 to record an imageon the recording material by ejection of the ink.

Examples of the recording material 5 include printing paper, resin filmsuch as an OHP (overhead projector) sheet, fabric, a surface of aproduct of metal, and the like. If the printer is a piezoelectricprinting type, the ink supply unit 9 is a piezoelectric element forpressurizing the ejection nozzles 7. If the printer is a bubble jetprinting type, the ink supply unit 9 is a heater for generating bubblesby heating ink in the ejection nozzles 7.

In FIG. 2, the nozzle arrangement surface 2a of the printhead 2 includesfour arrays of nozzles which are yellow ink ejection nozzles 7a, magentaink ejection nozzles 7b, cyan ink ejection nozzles 7c and black inkejection nozzles 7d. Each of the nozzle arrays extends in the sub scandirection S. Note that it is possible to add nozzle arrays for ink ofother colors, such as a dark yellow, a light magenta and a light cyan.

At the time of printing, a drive signal according to image data of animage is supplied to the ink supply unit 9 for each of the colors. Inkdroplets of the number and sizes according to the image data are ejectedtoward the recording material 5. A full-color image is obtained byarrangement of the ink droplets on the recording material 5.

In FIG. 1, a moving path of the printhead 2 includes two portions, whichare a printing region 10 and a marginal region 11. The printing region10 is where the recording material 5 is subjected to image recording.The marginal region 11 is beside the printing region 10 and is not usedfor image recording. There are a pickup device 12 and a suction unit 13in the marginal region 11. The pickup device 12 includes a pickupelement 14, a light source 15 and a pickup optical system 16. The pickupelement 14 is an image sensor, for example an area CCD (charge coupleddevice) sensor for photographing the printhead 2. The light source 15applies light to the nozzle arrangement surface 2a. The pickup opticalsystem 16 includes a condenser lens, an enlarging lens and the like. Thecondenser lens focuses light upon the pickup element 14 upon reflectionof the light from the nozzle arrangement surface 2a. The enlarging lensenlarges an image of the vicinity of the ejection nozzles 7.

The pickup device 12 is constructed in a selectable manner between anormal pickup mode and a high image quality mode. When the normal pickupmode is set, the pickup device 12 picks up four nozzles among theejection nozzles 7 and disposed inside a pickup region 21 at the brokenline in FIG. 2. When the high image quality mode is set, each of theejection nozzles 7 with its vicinity is picked up in enlargement by useof an enlarging lens in the pickup optical system 16. The image dataobtained by picking up is transferred to an analyzer 32 which will bedescribed later.

As the pickup device 12 is located in the marginal region 11, it ispossible to photograph an image at any time irrespective of printing andnot printing. The printing can be discontinued immediately upondetection of the failure in the ink ejection. Wasteful use of the inkcan be suppressed specifically when a size of image data of an image isconsiderably great. Note that, in spite of the four nozzles photographedsimultaneously in the present embodiment, it is possible to photographthree or less or five or more nozzles at one time. This is because thenumber of the photographable nozzles changes according to definition ofthe pickup device 12 and the density of arranging the nozzles. Also, thepickup clement 14 may be a line CCD sensor instead of the area CCDsensor. For the line CCD sensor, it is necessary to synchronize theoperation of the sensor with the movement of the carriage 4.

There is a determining unit 33 for detecting failing ones of the nozzlesas will be described later. The suction unit 13 operates for recovery ofa normal state by eliminating failure in the ink ejection. The suctionunit 13 includes a suction cap or head 17 and a suction pump 18. At thetime of the recovering process, the suction cap 17 is tightly contactedon the nozzle arrangement surface 2a. The suction pump 18 is driven tosuck the ink from out of the ejection nozzles 7. It is to be noted thatthe suction cap 17 may be separate from a protecting cap (not shown)which covers the nozzle arrangement surface 2a at the time of notprinting. According to this, wasteful use of the ink can be reduced,because only a failing one of the ejection nozzles 7 with the jam of inkcan be sucked selectively by use of the suction cap 17.

In FIG. 3, an ink ejection inspector 31 of the invention isschematically illustrated. The ink ejection inspector 31 has the pickupdevice 12, and also includes the analyzer 32, the determining unit 33and a control unit 34. The analyzer 32 analyzes the image datatransferred from the pickup device 12. The determining unit 33 isconstituted by a threshold value memory, and judges existence of failureor lack according to the analysis result. The control unit 34 controlsthe pickup device 12 and the suction unit 13 at the time of recoveryoperation.

The analyzer 32 includes an image parameter compensator 35 and a patternrecognition unit 36. The image parameter compensator 35 subjects theimage data to edge enhancement or other correction after the transferfrom the pickup device 12. The pattern recognition unit 36 operatesaccording to the known technique of the pattern recognition, andrecognizes the image data after the correction.

The pattern recognition unit 36 is constituted by a reference imagememory, and checks the image data from the pickup device 12 bycomparison with reference image data stored previously. In FIG. 4A, anormal state of the ejection nozzles 7 is illustrated, of which an imageconstitutes the reference image data. In FIGS. 4B-4F, various states offailures of the ejection nozzles 7 are illustrated, which are clearlydistinct from the normal state represented by the reference image data.In FIG. 4B, foreign material 41, such as extra ink, dust or otherunwanted particle, is stuck on the nozzle arrangement surface 2a near tothe ejection nozzles 7. In FIG. 4C, the foreign material 41 is stuck tothe inner surface of the ejection nozzles 7. In FIG. 4D, the foreignmaterial 41 line-shaped with a small width is stuck and extends acrossone edge of the ejection nozzles 7. In FIG. 4E, the foreign material 41is located inside the ejection nozzles 7 or the ink chamber 6. In FIG.4F, the foreign material 41 is stuck to cover the whole of the ejectionnozzles 7. It is to be noted that finite differences may be used for thepurpose of the pattern recognition. A finite difference between thereference image data and the image data of the picking up is determined.If the finite difference is more than a threshold value, then failure inthe ejection is determined in the determining unit 33.

The failing nozzles among the ejection nozzles 7 according to thedetermination in the determining unit 33 are subjected to the recoveringprocess which includes steps of sucking the ink in the suction unit 13,forcible ejection, heating the periphery of each nozzle, wiping with ablade of a wiper, and the like. In the case of the failure depicted inFIG. 4B, the ejection of the ink is safe. However, a problem is likelyto occur because an ejecting direction toward the recording material 5may change. The wiping blade in the wiper is used for wiping the nozzlearrangement surface 2a to eliminate the foreign material 41. For thefailure of this kind, only the wiping can be used for the recovery. Thesuction of the ink and other steps are not required. Thus, the failurein the ink ejection can be overcome at a short time without wasting theink.

In the case of failure of each of FIGS. 4C and 4E, the foreign material41 exists in the ejection nozzles 7. Then suction of the ink is effectedto eliminate the foreign material 41. To this end, the patternrecognition unit 36 calculates an area of a region at which the foreignmaterial 41 closes the ejection nozzles 7, and adjusts at least one ofthe suction pressure, the length of suction time, and the number oftimes of the suction in the suction unit 13 according to the greatnessof the calculated area. This is very effective in the recovering processat a high efficiency.

In the case of failure of each of FIGS. 4D and 4F, the nozzle is wipedby the blade in the same manner as FIG. 4B, to eliminate the foreignmaterial 41. At this time, the suction with the suction unit 13 can beadditionally used if required. After the recovering process, it happensthat failure in the ejection is detected again. For this case, theoperation for the recovering process is effected for a second time.Otherwise, an alarm unit is driven to generate an alarm signal in avisible or audible manner, to inform a user of the abnormal state. Ifthe printing has been started even at the time of the alarm signal, theprinting is immediately interrupted in a forcible manner. It isdesirable to avoid a wasteful use of the ink.

Furthermore, if one or more of the ejection nozzles 7 have failure,remaining normal nozzles 7 can be substituted for the failing nozzles.The feeding speed of the recording material 5 can be lowered in theprinting. After the printing at the low speed is completed, therecovering operation may be effected. In FIG. 5, one preferredembodiment is illustrated, in which a mode selector 51 is added. Themode selector 51 is operable by manual operation of a user, and sets aselected one of a mode of effecting the suction and a mode for thesubstitution with the normal nozzles.

In FIG. 6, another preferred embodiment is illustrated, in which animage history memory 61 is included in the analyzer 32 for storing imagedata as numerous sets of image history data obtained by the pickupdevice 12. The analyzer 32 accesses the image history memory 61,compares the image data with the stored image data as image historydata, and produces information of expecting nozzles which are likely tohave future failure. After determining those failure-expected nozzles,the failure-expected nozzles are subjected with priority to theinspection of the acceptability. Otherwise, only the failure-expectednozzles are subjected to the inspection without inspecting theremainder. This is advantageous in shortening the total time requiredfor the inspection of the failure. Note that the precision in theinspection can be raised by vibrating a meniscus as a surface of the inkdroplet at the ejection nozzles 7 in the ink supply unit 9.

Note that the pickup element 14 may be a CMOS (complementary metal-oxidesemiconductor) sensor instead of the CCD sensor. Also, it is possible toapply laser light to the ejection nozzles 7, and obtain surface shapedata of protruding and retracting shapes. The surface shape data can bechecked by comparison with predetermined reference surface shape data,so as to detect failure in the ejection. Also, an ink jet printer of theinvention may be a piezoelectric printing type. A pressurizing pump isprovided in an ink supply passageway between the ink reservoir 8 and theprinthead 2. At the time of the process for the recovery, thepressurizing pump is actuated to raise an inner pressure of the inksupply passageway. Piezoelectric elements are driven to eliminateforeign material by ejecting the ink. Otherwise, it is possible to ejectthe ink forcibly by raising amplitude of the voltage applied to thepiezoelectric elements for the purpose of eliminating foreign material.

In the above embodiment, the printer is a serial printer. However, aprinter according to the invention may be a line printer 71 of FIG. 7which includes a printhead of a great length. The recording material 5in the line printer 71 is fed in a direction perpendicular to a surfaceof the drawing sheet. An ink jet type of printhead 72 as ejection nozzlearray records an image to the recording material 5. The printhead 72 isstationary during the printing operation, but is shiftable away in adirection Y indicated by the arrow and perpendicular to feeding of therecording material 5.

A guide rod 73 is disposed between the printhead 72 and the recordingmaterial 5. A pickup device 74 and a suction unit 75 are supported onthe guide rod 73 in a slidable manner in a direction X indicated by thearrow. The suction unit 75 is movable up and down in the direction Y. Anozzle arrangement surface 72a of the printhead 72 is contacted tightlyby the suction unit 75, which subjects failing nozzles to the recoveringprocess among the ejection nozzles 7. To detect failure in the inkejection, the printhead 72 is shifted away so as to slide the pickupdevice 74 and the suction unit 75 along the guide rod 73. Note that itis possible to shift away a passageway for the recording material 5instead of shifting the printhead 72.

Also, the liquid ejected according to the present invention may be otherthan the ink.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way of thepreferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to thosehaving skill in this field. Therefore, unless otherwise these changesand modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, theyshould be construed as included therein.

1. A liquid ejection inspecting method for an ejection nozzle arrayincluding plural ejection nozzles comprising a printhead for ejectingliquidwherein said plural ejection nozzles extend in a first scandirection , said liquid ejection inspecting method comprising the stepsof: photographing said ejection nozzles in said ejection nozzle array,with a pickup device to output image data; analyzing, using processor,said image data to output analysis result information; and judgingwhether an ejecting state of said ejection nozzles is acceptable orunacceptable according to said analysis result information; , moving oneof said printhead and said recording material relative to a remainingone thereof at a small adjusting shifted amount in said first scandirection, said adjusting shifted amount being equal to a pitch betweenan unacceptable nozzle of which said unacceptable state is judged and anacceptable nozzle close thereto and of which said acceptable state isjudged among said ejection nozzles, and causing said acceptable nozzleto eject said ink instead of said unacceptable nozzle, so as tocompensate for lowering of image quality due to said unacceptable state;and recording images to recording material based on whether an objectwhich prevents said liquid from passing through a discharging port ofsaid ejection nozzle is stuck on said ejection nozzle wherein theunacceptable states include states where an object is stuck on a nozzlearrangement surface near to the ejection nozzles, where the object isstuck on an inner surface of the ejection nozzles, where the object isstuck and extends across an edge of the ejection nozzles, where theobject is located inside the ejection nozzles, and where the object isstuck to cover the whole of the ejection nozzles, and wherein saidjudging step includes comparing said difference with a predeterminedthreshold value adapted to said pattern recognition process, judgingsaid acceptable state if said difference is equal to or less than saidthreshold value, and judging said unacceptable state if said differenceis more than said threshold value.
 2. A liquid ejection inspectingmethod as defined in claim 1, wherein in said analyzing step,predetermined reference image data is used, to check said image data bycomparison.
 3. A liquid ejection inspecting method as defined in claim2, wherein said reference image data is used in a pattern recognitionprocess, and one of acceptable and unacceptable states of said ejectionnozzles is judged by evaluating said image data in said patternrecognition process.
 4. A liquid ejection inspecting method as definedin claim 3, further comprising a step of, if said ejection nozzles arein said unacceptable state, wiping said ejection nozzles to eliminateforeign material.
 5. A liquid ejection inspecting method as defined inclaim 3, further comprising a step of, if said ejection nozzles are insaid unacceptable state, eliminating foreign material from said ejectionnozzles.
 6. A liquid ejection inspecting method as defined in claim 5,wherein said photographing, analyzing, and judging steps are effectedagain after said eliminating step; further comprising a step of, if saidunacceptable state is judged again in said judging step, generating analarm signal.
 7. A liquid ejection inspecting method as defined in claim3, wherein said analyzing step includes determining a difference betweensaid image data and said reference image data, said differenceconstituting said analysis result information; said judging stepincludes comparing said difference with a predetermined threshold valueadapted to said pattern recognition process, judging said acceptablestate if said difference is equal to or less than said threshold value,and judging said unacceptable state if said difference is more than saidthreshold value .
 8. A liquid ejection inspecting method as defined inclaim 3, wherein said liquid is ink, and said ejection nozzle arrayconstitutes a printhead of an ink jet type.
 9. The liquid ejectioninspecting method of claim 1, wherein the photographing said ejectionnozzles further comprises photographing ejection nozzle orifices.
 10. Aliquid ejection inspector for an ejection nozzle array including pluralejection nozzles comprising a printhead for ejecting liquidwherein saidejection nozzle array extends in a first scan direction , said liquidejection inspector comprising: a pickup device for photographing saidejection nozzles in said ejection nozzle array, to output image data,wherein said image data is recorded to recording material ; an analyzercircuit for storing reference image data, and for outputting analysisresult information according to said image data and said reference imagedata; and a determining unit for judging whether an ejecting state ofsaid ejection nozzles is acceptable or unacceptable according to saidanalysis result information; and , a control unit for moving one of saidprinthead and said recording material relative to a remaining onethereof at a small adjusting shifted amount in said first scandirection, said adjusting shifted amount being equal to a pitch betweenan unacceptable nozzle of which said unacceptable state is judged and anacceptable nozzle close thereto and of which said acceptable state isjudged among said ejection nozzles, said control unit causing saidacceptable nozzle to eject said ink instead of said unacceptable nozzle,so as to compensate for lowering of image quality due to saidunacceptable state based on whether an object which prevents said liquidfrom passing through a discharging port of said ejection nozzle is stuckon said election nozzle. wherein the unacceptable states include stateswhere an object is stuck on a nozzle arrangement surface near to theejection nozzles, where the object is stuck on an inner surface of theejection nozzles, where the object is stuck and extends across an edgeof the ejection nozzles, where the object is located inside the ejectionnozzles, and where the object is stuck to cover the whole of theejection nozzles, and wherein said judging includes comparing saiddifference with a predetermined threshold value adapted to said patternrecognition process, judging said acceptable state if said difference isequal to or less than said threshold value, and judging saidunacceptable state if said difference is more than said threshold value.11. The liquid ejection inspector of claim 10, wherein the pickup devicephotographs ejection nozzle orifices in said ejection nozzle array. 12.An image forming apparatus comprising: at least one ejection nozzlearray including plural ejection nozzles comprising a printhead forejecting liquid, wherein said plural ejection nozzles extend in a firstscan direction ; a pickup device for photographing said ejection nozzlesin said ejection nozzle array, to output image data, wherein said imagedata is recorded to recording material ; an analyzer for storingreference image data, and for outputting analysis result informationaccording to said image data and said reference image data; and adetermining unit for judging whether an ejecting state of said ejectionnozzles is acceptable or unacceptable according to said analysis resultinformation; and , a control unit for moving one of said printhead andsaid recording material relative to a remaining one thereof at a smalladjusting shifted amount in said first scan direction, said adjustingshifted amount being equal to a pitch between an unacceptable nozzle ofwhich said unacceptable state is judged and an acceptable nozzle closethereto and of which said acceptable state is judged among said ejectionnozzles, said control unit causing said acceptable nozzle to eject saidink instead of said unacceptable nozzle so as to compensate for loweringof image quality due to said unacceptable state based on whether anobject which prevents said liquid from passing through a dischargingport of said ejection nozzle is stuck on said election nozzle. whereinthe unacceptable states include states where an object is stuck on anozzle arrangement surface near to the ejection nozzles, where theobject is stuck on an inner surface of the ejection nozzles, where theobject is stuck and extends across an edge of the ejection nozzles,where the object is located inside the ejection nozzles, and where theobject is stuck to cover the whole of the ejection nozzles, and whereinsaid determining unit stores information of a predetermined thresholdvalue adapted to said pattern recognition process, compares saiddifference with said threshold value, judges said acceptable state ifsaid difference is equal to or less than said threshold value, andjudges said unacceptable state if said difference is more than saidthreshold value.
 13. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 12,further comprising a foreign material elimination unit for eliminatingforeign material from said ejection nozzles.
 14. An image formingapparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said reference image data isused in a pattern recognition process, and said analyzer and saiddetermining unit cooperate to judge one of acceptable and unacceptablestates of said ejection nozzles by evaluating said image data in saidpattern recognition process.
 15. An image forming apparatus as definedin claim 14, wherein said elimination unit is operated at least whensaid unacceptable state is judged according to said analysis resultinformation.
 16. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 14,wherein according to said analysis result information, said eliminationunit is selectively operated for unacceptable ejection nozzles includedin said ejection nozzles and of which said unacceptable state is judged.17. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein saidanalyzer further calculates a blocked area where said foreign materialblocks said ejection nozzles according to said image data; furthercomprising a control unit for changing a driving parameter of saidelimination unit according to said blocked area.
 18. An image formingapparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said elimination unit is asuction unit for sucking said liquid out of said ejection nozzles, andsaid driving parameter is at least one of a pressure of suction of saidsuction unit, a length of time of said suction, and a number of times ofsaid suction.
 19. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 14,further comprising an image history memory for storing image historydata constituted by plural sets of image data obtained previously;wherein said analyzer judges whether said image data is within a rangeof said image history data, and if said image data is within said rangeof said image history data, determines said acceptable stale of anejection nozzle corresponding to said image data, and if said image datais outside said range of said image history data, determines an ejectionnozzle corresponding to said image data as a failure-expected nozzle,and processes said image data for said failure-expected nozzle, tooutput said analysis result information.
 20. An image forming apparatusas defined in claim 19, wherein said pickup device photographs saidfailure-expected nozzle when operated again.
 21. An image formingapparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said analyzer determines adifference between said image data and said reference image data, saiddifference constituting said analysis result information; saiddetermining unit stores information of a predetermined threshold valueadapted to said pattern recognition process, compares said differencewith said threshold value, judges said acceptable state if saiddifference is equal to or less than said threshold value, and judgessaid unacceptable state if said difference is more than said thresholdvalue .
 22. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 14, whereinsaid pickup device comprises a CCD or CMOS.
 23. The image formingapparatus of claim 12, wherein the pickup device photographs ejectionnozzle orifices in said ejection nozzle array.
 24. An image formingapparatus comprising: at least one ejection nozzle array includingplural ejection nozzles comprising a printhead for ejecting liquid,wherein said plural ejection nozzles extend in a first scan direction; aforeign material elimination unit for eliminating foreign material fromsaid ejection nozzles; a pickup device for photographing said ejectionnozzles in said ejection nozzle array, to output image data, whereinsaid image data is recorded to recording material; an analyzer forstoring reference image data, and for outputting analysis resultinformation according to said image data and said reference image data;and a determining unit for judging whether an ejecting state of saidejection nozzles is acceptable or unacceptable according to saidanalysis result information; and a control unit for moving one of saidprinthead and said recording material relative to a remaining onethereof at a small adjusting shifted amount in said first scandirection, said adjusting shifted amount being equal to a pitch betweenan unacceptable nozzle of which said unacceptable state is judged and anacceptable nozzle close thereto and of which said acceptable state isjudged among said ejection nozzles, said control unit causing saidacceptable nozzle to eject said ink instead of said unacceptable nozzle,so as to compensate for lowering of image quality due to saidunacceptable state, wherein said reference image data is used in apattern recognition process, and said analyzer and said determining unitcooperate to judge one of acceptable and unacceptable states of saidejection nozzles by evaluating said image data in said patternrecognition process.
 25. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim24, further comprising a mode selector for setting a selected one of anelimination mode and a nozzle substitution mode, and for, when saidelimination mode is set, operating said elimination unit, and for, whensaid nozzle substitution mode is set, causing said control unit tooperate said acceptable nozzle included in said ejection nozzles forsubstitution.
 26. An image forming apparatus as defined in claim 24,further comprising a carriage for moving said printhead relative to saidrecording material in a second scan direction; said pickup device isarranged beside a printing surface of said recording material in saidsecond scan direction, and is opposed to said printhead moved by saidcarriage.
 27. An image forming apparatus comprising: at least oneejection nozzle array including plural ejection nozzles for ejectingliquid; a pickup device for photographing said ejection nozzles in saidejection nozzle array, to output image data; an analyzer for storingreference image data, and for outputting analysis result informationaccording to said image data and said reference image data; and adetermining unit for judging whether an ejecting state of said ejectionnozzles is acceptable or unacceptable according to said analysis resultinformation; and a control unit for moving one of said ejection nozzlearray and said recording material relative to a remaining one thereof ata small adjusting shifted amount in said first scan direction, saidadjusting shifted amount being equal to a pitch between an unacceptablenozzle of which said unacceptable state is judged among said ejectionnozzles and an acceptable nozzle close thereto and of which saidacceptable state is judged among said ejection nozzles, said controlunit causing said acceptable nozzle to eject said liquid instead of saidunacceptable nozzle, so as to compensate for lowering of image qualitydue to said unacceptable state, wherein said liquid is ink, and saidejection nozzle array comprises a printhead of an ink jet type adaptedto image recording to recording material and extending in a first scandirection.
 28. A liquid ejection inspecting method for an ejectionnozzle array including plural ejection nozzles comprising a printheadfor ejecting liquid wherein said plural ejection nozzles extend in afirst scan direction, said liquid ejection inspecting method comprisingthe steps of: photographing said ejection nozzles in said ejectionnozzle array with a pickup device to output image data; analyzing saidimage data to output analysis result information; judging whether anejecting state of said ejection nozzles is acceptable or unacceptableaccording to said analysis result information; moving one of saidprinthead and said recording material relative to a remaining onethereof at a small adjusting shifted amount in said first scandirection, said adjusting shifted amount being equal to a pitch betweenan unacceptable nozzle of which said unacceptable state is judged and anacceptable nozzle close thereto and of which said acceptable state isjudged among said ejection nozzles, and causing said acceptable nozzleto eject said ink instead of said unacceptable nozzle, so as tocompensate for lowering of image quality due to said unacceptable state;and recording images to recording material based on whether an objectwhich prevents said liquid from passing through a discharging port ofsaid ejection nozzle is stuck on said ejection nozzle.
 29. A liquidejection inspector for an ejection nozzle array including pluralejection nozzles comprising a printhead for ejecting liquid wherein saidejection nozzle array extends in a first scan direction, said liquidejection inspector comprising: a pickup device for photographing saidejection nozzles in said ejection nozzle array, to output image data,wherein said image data is recorded to recording material; an analyzerfor storing reference image data, and for outputting analysis resultinformation according to said image data and said reference image data;a determining unit for judging whether an ejecting state of saidejection nozzles is acceptable or unacceptable according to saidanalysis result information; and a control unit for moving one of saidprinthead and said recording material relative to a remaining onethereof at a small adjusting shifted amount in said first scandirection, said adjusting shifted amount being equal to a pitch betweenan unacceptable nozzle of which said unacceptable state is judged and anacceptable nozzle close thereto and of which said acceptable state isjudged among said ejection nozzles, said control unit causing saidacceptable nozzle to eject said ink instead of said unacceptable nozzle,so as to compensate for lowering of image quality due to saidunacceptable state based on whether an object which prevents said liquidfrom passing through a discharging port of said ejection nozzle is stuckon said ejection nozzle.
 30. An image forming apparatus comprising: atleast one ejection nozzle array including plural ejection nozzlescomprising a printhead for ejecting liquid, wherein said plural ejectionnozzles extend in a first scan direction; a pickup device forphotographing said ejection nozzles in said ejection nozzle array, tooutput image data, wherein said image data is recorded to recordingmaterial; an analyzer for storing reference image data, and foroutputting analysis result information according to said image data andsaid reference image data; and a determining unit for judging whether anejecting state of said ejection nozzles is acceptable or unacceptableaccording to said analysis result information; and a control unit formoving one of said printhead and said recording material relative to aremaining one thereof at a small adjusting shifted amount in said firstscan direction, said adjusting shifted amount being equal to a pitchbetween an unacceptable nozzle of which said unacceptable state isjudged and an acceptable nozzle close thereto and of which saidacceptable state is judged among said ejection nozzles, said controlunit causing said acceptable nozzle to eject said ink instead of saidunacceptable nozzle, so as to compensate for lowering of image qualitydue to said unacceptable state based on whether an object which preventssaid liquid from passing through a discharging port of said ejectionnozzle is stuck on said ejection nozzle.